Before I write about our final week of training, I want to briefly tell you a little about the home adjustment process. It takes a lot of energy when coming home with a new Leader Dog. I will go into further details in a separate post. It can be stressful for the dog and… Continue reading Final Training Week: January 26 – 30
Category: training process
Puppy Raiser Night: Meeting Penny’s First Family
After Saturday’s dinner pizza party, the time had come for some of us to meet our puppy raisers. The excitement in the air was palpable and contagious between dogs and humans. The dogs were taken out to park then brought to the banquet room for their visit. Penny was extra excited as she was free… Continue reading Puppy Raiser Night: Meeting Penny’s First Family
Let It Snow: January 23, 24, and 25
The weather has continued to challenge our training objectives; but flexibility and adventure have prevailed. Thursday morning (23rd) took us to the downtown training center for obstacles and traffic checks. Penny and I made a right on the sidewalk in front of the training center to meet a Leader Dog van traffic check coming out… Continue reading Let It Snow: January 23, 24, and 25
Time To Shop: Updates for January 20, 21, and 22
Training days at Leader Dog can be intense and tiring for both dog and human. I have tried to settle down early for the past couple of nights to rejuvenate myself and Penny. We have awesome classmates; and enjoy our social time with them. We all seem to mesh together creating a light and de-stressing… Continue reading Time To Shop: Updates for January 20, 21, and 22
Transition: She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not…
She loves me! She loves me not! This is what I think of when processing my feelings about my bonding with Penny. At first, she reminded me of a cat. After her initial excitement upon our meeting, she tolerated me. She was a bit hesitant in her knowing how to interact with me since she… Continue reading Transition: She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not…
It’s Traffic Check Day!!
The sun actually appeared this morning brightening the twenty-five degree day. We headed downtown to the training center to work our dogs in harness, further becoming familiar as a beginning and developing team. Penny worked pretty smooth today. The sidewalks were nasty, wet, and covered with melting ice, salt, and narrowed by snow banks on… Continue reading It’s Traffic Check Day!!
Let The Training Begin!
All training for yesterday, January 15, was done on the practice course outside of the Polk Residence Training Center (the dorm). Our trainers took us out individually with our new partners on the practice course that surrounded snow covered property and mini-pond/retention area. It felt good to hold a dog guide harness in my hand… Continue reading Let The Training Begin!
Dog Issue Day: She’s Here!!!
The day has finally arrived! We began our training morning by heading to the Downtown Training Center in Rochester Hills. We were given personal tours by a couple of very nice volunteers and took a Juno walk on Main Street. The inside of the training center has been remodeled since my last visit; and has… Continue reading Dog Issue Day: She’s Here!!!
Twas The Night Before Issue
Excitement in anticipation of Santa Paws arrival dominated the atmosphere in the Leader Dog Residence today. Apparently we will all receive dogs with four legs, a tail, fur, poop a lot, gender of he/she, named Juno. The day was filled with questions to the instructors fishing for any small detail about our new dogs. It… Continue reading Twas The Night Before Issue
Arrival Day: We’re Here!!!
The day has come; and we are finally here!! We were blessed with smooth flights from Augusta to Atlanta; and onward to Detroit. I must brag about a couple of non-scale victories (Weight Watchers Jargon). I no longer needed an extender safety belt to cover my fat ass; and the tray table opened without interference… Continue reading Arrival Day: We’re Here!!!